En route through the harvest of colours from New England to Quebec. Numerous stops necessary to be gobsmacked by the beauty of the land at harvest time.

Many bowls of roasted squash soup and apple pie later, we arrived at Lac des Chats near St. Sauveur. We celebrate the last glorious days of fall at the lake with family raking leaves and canoeing.

This is Lovers Park in Val-David, 80 k north of Montreal and half-way between St. Sauveur and Mont Tremblant. They self-describe as “au coeur du village et de la culture’. It’s true.

This small town is home to many fine arts and crafts practitioners. In particular is the artist run contemporary printmaking centre, L’Atelier de L’Ile, which I visited and is featured in my next post.

Quebec seems to particularly value its artists. This town, and the printmaking centre, is a case in point.

Last winter I visited the Old Tucson movie location and theme park near Tucson, Arizona. It’s in the middle of nowhere as they say. I wandered around and got attacked by a few cactus needles taking picture. It was a blast!

Thousands of Dusters (both movies and TV) have been filmed here. To name but a few; Rio Bravo, Hombre, Outlaw Josie Wales, Three Amigos, Gunsmoke, Billy the Kid, and Tombstone.

Some Things I Really Like in the MFA Art of the Americas Wing (and Outside Too)

At the back of the Museum, the huge baby head sculpture, Day, by Spanish artist Antonio Lopez.

Corridors of glass with great views and great sculpture.

One of several fine small Georgia O’Keeffe paintings.

Stuart Davis, when seeing is like listening to great Jazz.

Striking (shall I use the j word?) juxtapositions of mediums.

2oth century American industrial designers like Charles & Ray Eames, Eva Zeisel, Eliot Noyes and Russell Wright featured in one big room chock a block with cool things for the home. Now to find a mid century modern house to buy…

At the entrance to the Museum of Fine Arts is this grand and welcoming sculpture by Cyrus Edwin Dallin, 1909. It dates to the opening of their current location on Huntington Avenue. This is one of the largest museums in the US with vast and impressive collections. It’s very easy to get happily lost for a long time here.

Thought I would throw in another of The Great Spirit to pay homage to the American Duster, or Western. I’m a big fan of the kitschy film genre. Don’t ask me why.

If you do get lost you can take nourishment at the New American Cafe in the Shapiro Courtyard. It’s one of four very good places to eat (and for all budgets) in the sprawling MFA.

I took these photos at Dale Chihuly’s gorgeous show Through the Looking Glass in 2011. Above, two views onto the Shapiro Courtyard that links to the Art of the Americas wing, opened in 2006. The Dr. Zuess-like tree is titled Lime Green Icicle Tower.

Magical installations in darkened rooms created a shiny other worldly atmosphere. Blown glass reminds me of the ocean and these large pieces were no exception.

I was pretty excited to see this Pacific Northwest glass artist represented at the MFA in Boston with a big show. It’s inspiring that a world class art museum celebrates this kind of work and artist.